McGhee’s Bakery is on a roll with Mercedes-Benz vans

Glasgow-based McGhee’s Bakery has added another two Sprinter chassis cabs to the fleet of Mercedes-Benz vans it relies upon to deliver three million bread rolls per week to independent retail outlets.

Best-known as the home of ‘Scotland’s Famous Crispy Rolls’, the company runs 75 Sprinters which are the subject of planned maintenance agreements with supplying Dealer Western Commercial.

The vans set off from McGhee’s Bakery’s high-tech headquarters on the M8 Food Park between midnight and 2am, to get fresh bread to shops across Scotland before they open to the public each morning.

The latest additions to the fleet are both Sprinter 513 CDI models with twin rear wheels and box bodies by Newberry Coachbuilders, of Coatbridge.

“Historically we ran a variety of vans by different manufacturers and maintained them in-house,” recalled Director Stuart McGhee. “Fifteen years ago, however, we took a strategic decision to standardise on a single brand.

“We bought our first Mercedes-Benz vans and were immediately impressed by their robust build quality. They have always been superbly reliable, so we’ve stuck by them. The Sprinter is very popular with our drivers and we take comfort from the knowledge that it is widely recognised as the safest van on the road.”

McGhee’s also relies on Western Commercial to service its vehicles and has signed-up once again to comprehensive Mercedes-Benz Complete Care Maintenance Plans for its two new vehicles. These flexible, fixed cost arrangements, for which customers can choose whether to pay up front or by monthly direct debit, can be precisely tailored and allow businesses to protect themselves against increases in labour rates, parts prices and inflation for up to six services.

Work is undertaken by trained technicians fitting only Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts. In addition to the standard three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, vehicles maintained within the manufacturer’s official Dealer Network also benefit from MobiloVan cover, which includes free roadside assistance for up to 30 years.

“The planned maintenance system works extremely well for us,” continued Mr McGhee. “Our fleet is intensively used so we simply cannot afford to have vehicles off the road.

“As well as undertaking routine services in their own workshops, Western Commercial’s mobile technicians will often visit our premises to carry out smaller jobs. It’s all part of the Dealer’s clear commitment to keeping our business moving.”

Family-owned McGhee’s was founded in Maryhill in 1936 by Dugald McGhee. Sons Jim, Calder, Douglas and Gavin joined the company as Directors in the 1950s and ’60s, followed by the third and current generation of Gordon, Ian and Stuart. The operation moved to its current home, which is among the most energy-efficient bakeries in the UK, in 2005.